Suhail Rather
Bandipora, 30 Jan (KNS): The wildlife department has reported fresh photographic evidence of a group of Eurasian otters in Gurez valley of north Kashmir Bandipora district.
Considered nearly extinct once, the recent sightings of otters indicates a healthy aquatic ecosystem in the Gurez valley.
The wildlife authorities in the district told KNS that the European otters were present in the Gurez Valley but were rarely spotted on camera.
Tanveer Ahmad Lone, a wildlife official said the otters were spotted in centrally located Tehsil of Dawar in Gurez valley on the banks of Kishangaga river atleast two days before.
"There was presence of otters in the valley but it was not being spotted on camera. The fresh evidence is positive news," Lone added.
During the study sixty camera traps were set up six among near rivirine areas, it was to study elusive Musk Deer.
However, one camera trap recorded an eurasian otter on 6 August, 2023 at 2:00 AM, midnight. There after it was not spotted due to various reasons until recently.
Intesar Suhail, Wildlife Warden north Kashmir said, "It is not the first but one of the rare sightings of the otter." He also reffered to the first sightings of Otters in Gurez in August, 2023.
He said from atleast three years, otters have been spotted at different places in Kashmir including Herpora wildlife century.
The officer said before thirty years the species was present in the valley in abundance but their population had divindeled.
He suggested the fresh sightings inindicatehe population of otters has revived in the valley. (KNS)